1939 Packard 1708 Twelve

1939 was the final year for the twelve-cylinder Packard and just under 450 examples were built production ended for all time. Packard celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1939 as the era of high-powered, long-wheelbase, ultra-expensive custom cars was coming to an end.

The 1939 Packard Twelves remained virtually unchanged, were the only Packard series to rest on the 134- and 139-inch wheelbase chassis, and the only series in which custom bodies could be ordered. Even though just 446 examples of the Packard V-12 left Detroit in 1939, Packard still referred to them as production units, but in reality, they were built on a per-order basis with none leaving the factory without a buyer.

The 473 cubic-inch V-12 engine had a 67-degree V-block, modified L-head, four main bearings, mechanical valve lifters, a Stromberg carburetor,6.4:1 standard compression (or optional 7.0:1 compression), and delivered 175 bhp at 3,200 RPM. All 1939 Packards were backed by a three-speed selective synchromesh transmission with floor-mounted gearshift controls. A column shift configuration was optional. Stopping power was provided by four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes with vacuum assist.

The Packard Twelve was offered as the Model 1707 resting on a 134-inch wheelbase and the Model 1708 with a 139-inch platform. Body styles on the Model 1707 included a convertible coupe, convertible victoria, 5-passenger or 4-passenger coupe, club sedan, sedan, and Formal sedan. Prices ranged from $4,185 to $5,230. An All-Weather Cabriolet with coachwork by Rollston was priced at $6,730. The Model 1708 was priced at $4,485 for the touring sedan, $4,690 for the touring limousine, and $5,400 for the convertible sedan. The Touring Cabriolet and All-Weather Cabriolet with coachwork by Brunn were priced at $8,360 and the All-Weather Town Car by Rollston listed for $6,880.

1939 Packard
The Packard 1707 and 1708 Twelve were joined by the six-cylinder Model 1700 resting on a 122-inch wheelbase, and the rest of the lineup received an eight-cylinder engine. The Packard One Twenty Series was comprised of the Model 1701 with a 127-inch wheelbase and the Model 1702 on a 148-inch platform. Pricing of the Model 1701 ranged from $1,200 to $1,640, while the 1702 touring sedan listed for $4,100 and the touring limousine at nearly $4,200. Both the 1701 and 1702 were powered by a 282 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine delivering 120 horsepower at 3,800 RPM. Its valves were pressure-lubricated, it used a Duplex or Stromberg carburetor, had five main bearings, a cast-iron block, and an L-head design.

The Packard Super Eight line consisted of the Model 1703 on a 127-inch wheelbase and priced from $1,955 to $2,180, and the Model1705 on a 148-inch wheelbase with the touring sedan priced at $2,460 and the touring limousine at $2,600. Both were equipped with a 320 cubic-inch straight-eight engine with nine main bearings, roller cam, Stromberg carburetor, and delivering 130 horsepower at 3,200 RPM.

1939 Packard Production
The stock market crash and subsequent Depression wreaked havoc on automobile sales, particularly in the luxury car segment. Several years of steady growth and recovery rewarded the auto industry with a banner year in 1937, including Packard. With barely 15,000 registered cars between 1933 and 1934, Packard witnessed its annual registrations climb dramatically: 37,653 in 1935, 68,772 in 1936, and 95,455 in 1937. The surge in sales was partly attributed to its low-cost, high-volume line of Packard Sixes, helping the company become profitable once again, passing some of its success along to its workers in a new labor contract. Not resting on its laurels, the company re-invested its earnings back into new, and desperately needed, manufacturing plants and equipment.

The U.S. economic recovery reversed in 1938 and proved to be a financial disaster for the auto industry as a whole, with the prospects of war in Europe affecting consumers' confidence. Sales and production were down considerably, and not just for the luxury segment, but across the board including low and medium-priced cars. Dodge's sales fell by 59 percent, Ford's by 53 percent, and Chevrolet's by 44 percent. Packard's sales fell by 49.5 percent with the Packard Twelve faring the worst decline, dropping from a record 1,300 units in 1937 to 566 in 1938, eventually leading to the demise in 1939 after eight years in production.

The Twelve reigned as the most prestigious, most luxurious, most expensive, and most exclusive 1939 Packard automobile. The Packard Six production reached 24,350 units, the Packard Eight at 17,647 units built, and the Packard Super Eight at 3,962 units. The 446 examples of the Twelve represented less than two percent of Packard's total 42,350 units built.

The Packard Twelve
Packard's first twelve-cylinder model was called the Twin Six, entering production in 1916 with quantities of 4,000 or so annually. The post-World War I Depression reduced demand to levels that were uneconomical, forcing production to end in 1923. Cadillac, Lincoln, Marmon, and other luxury marques escalated the multi-cylinder wars in the late 1920s and early 1930s, prompting Packard to re-introduce a V12 in 1932. Called the Twin Six at introduction its nomenclature was simplified in 1933 to Twelve. It shared many chassis features with the Super Eight, however, its exclusivity and expense were unmatched whether fitted with a catalog or custom body. In 1935, the twelve-cylinder engine received a quarter-inch longer stroke bringing about a displacement of 473 cubic inches. The large displacement and aluminum cylinder heads increased the output of the Twelve to an advertised 175 horsepower.

Production of the Packard end came to an end in 1939, marking the end of an era and its zenith.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021